Preserve Our NeighborhoodsAirbnb takes housing off the marketand raises rents for tenants.It's a Bad Deal for Santa Cruz.
EVICTING TENANTS
Property owners looking for higher returns are converting residential homes that have traditionally been housing to lodging for tourists.
RAISING RENTS
As residential housing is converted to tourist accommodations, housing availability declines. The tight rental market leads to higher rents.
DISRUPTING NEIGHBORHOODS
The city's general plan reserves residential neighborhoods for homes and locates hotels in commercial zones. Airbnb is setting up hotels in our neighborhoods.
DEFUNDING LOCAL SCHOOLS
The city has lost hundreds of housing units to Airbnb rentals. When households with children leave the city our school district loses enrollment and funding.
MAPS TELL THE STORY
The growth of neighborhood hotels run by residential property owners in has exploded since 2014. What once was housing for families, workers and students are now hotels for tourists. Lower Seabright and West Cliff are particularly impacted.
TAKE ACTION
Email or send a letter to the City Council and tell them your thoughts on the boom in short term rentals over the last three years. The City Council will be reviewing their 2017 ordinance every couple of years and input from city residents could change their mind.
Email the council here: citycouncil@cityofsantacruz.com
Or
Send them a letter:
Santa Cruz City Council
809 Center St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
PRINT A FLYER
One way to protect our neighborhoods and make Santa Cruz a better place to live is to print a flyer and post it. We have one for directed at locals and one for tourists. Education is the key to preserve our city. Do your part and post some flyers.